Genevieve
by admin on Aug.20, 2008, under genever, gin, spirit
Background: From Anchor Distilling in San Francisco, a genever style gin using the same botanicals as their Junipero London dry gin. The difference lies in the base: rather than neutral spirits, a mash of malted wheat, barley, and rye is used. If it weren't for those pesky botanicals, the resulting spirit would be whisky.
There have been at least two releases, but the first one (bottled in the same clear bottles used for Junipero) was extremely limited and was mainly made available to restaurants and bars rather than at retail. The second release (which I have) is in green-tinted bottles and has much better availability. Anchor has not committed one way or the other regarding continued production, so if you absolutely must try it, sooner would be better than later.
Nose: Funky, earthy, fruity, and sweet. Rich malt aroma with refreshing herbaceous high notes.
Taste: Juniper hits first, but it's accompanied by a vegetal woodiness. Brash alcohol on a solid cereal background, with spicy rye notes complementing the spicy botanical elements. Medium, oily finish as the juniper fades away and is replaced by a gentle sweetness.
Overall: Full of character and unique. Highly flavourful, so it shows to best advantage when mixed rather than served neat. Nevertheless, simply sipping it with a few drops of water added is a rewarding experience.
